DOXA 2017: The Caretakers

When it was discovered that 13 trees were illegally cut down by the pipeline company Kinder Morgan in the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, activists began moving in to prevent further damage. A camp began to form, and people settled in for a fight against the RCMP and Kinder Morgan.

This film documents the 2014 struggle undertaken by a large group of concerned citizens, including First Nations, immigrants, and local residents who were concerned about the safety of their land and water. Their determination to stop Kinder Morgan’s survey, and ultimately the whole pipeline project, was a large news event that raised awareness about the project and bolstered support for the fight against it.

The home of Simon Fraser University, a growing residential population, and a large conservation area, Burnaby Mountain was a unique site for such a protest. Questions of indigenous sovereignty, the National Energy Board consultations, and the effects of colonialism were the main themes running through this intimate snapshot of these intense moments on the mountain.

For both locals and those interested in environmental fights from around the world, this documentary serves as an important record of the struggle that was fought